September 8, 2023 |
Photo – Wyoming logo and Portland State logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The danger for the Wyoming Cowboys is letting their guard down tomorrow against Portland State after last week’s come-from-behind win over 14-point favorite Texas Tech in double-overtime.
Out of the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings fell to another FBS-opponent last week, 15th ranked Oregon. The result was an ugly 81-7 loss.
Even more gruesome than the final score, one Portland State player had part of an ear torn off in the game. Vikings head coach Bruce Barnum talked this week about the injury to the unnamed player on a Portland podcast, “The Bald-Faced Truth.”
The Portland State team that will take to the field in Laramie tomorrow will be a very different one than was tested by fire at Oregon. To avoid injuries to his starters last week, PSU head coach Barnum threw a lot of young players onto the field against the Ducks. The subs came early and often with 22 freshmen, including seven true freshmen seeing significant playing time.
With a more seasoned Vikings team on Jonah Field tomorrow in Laramie, Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl was cautioning fans this week to keep their enthusiasm in check. The Cowboys will face a different Vikings team than the one that lost last week to Oregon.
Tomorrow’s game between Wyoming and Portland State will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools. PSU has been looking at tape of the Cowboys against Texas Tech all week. The Pokes have not had much to review. PSU quarterback Dante Chachere is an athletic, dual-threat signal caller. He went 5-for-14 passing for 35 yards, including a touchdown pass to freshman Chance Miller, before being pulled early last week. He led the Vikings with 53 yards despite his limited field time.
Veteran Wide receiver Nate Bennett comes in tomorrow with with four career touchdowns and 1,133 yards.
Veteran offensive tackle Frank Crum with the Cowboys—all 6-7, 315 pounds of him—says the Cowboys know they’re not playing a pushover team tomorrow.
The Cowboy defense held one of the nation’s top offenses in check in the final three quarters last week. They’ll look to hold the line tomorrow, as well.
Wyoming and Portland state kick off for the first time ever at War Memorial Stadium at 2 p.m. tomorrow. Bigfoot 99 has the game starting with the pregame show starting at noon-30.
